NSUI chief resigns, Cong cites tradition

New Delhi, October 16

With sitting Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar brazening it out in the MeToo campaign despite a barrage of accusations against him, the Congress today secured the resignation of its student wing chief Fairoz Khan, facing sexual harassment charges.

Khan, 29, chief of the National Students Union of India, sent his resignation to party president Rahul Gandhi, who accepted it.

The move comes at a time when an internal Congress inquiry in the matter is yet to conclude. A police complaint of sexual assault was earlier made against Khan by a Jammu and Kashmir girl, following which the Congress began an internal probe under AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot.

Khan’s resignation was seen as essential to the Congress taking a moral high ground against the BJP in the MeToo movement. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, “There are differences in the traditions different parties practise. Congress ministers would step down the moment a finger was raised at them. They did this not because they were guilty, but because they come from a certain tradition. The BJP, in contrast, is shameless and brazen and continues to retain a minister who is facing charges after charges.”

With Khan out, the Congress feels it can take on the BJP more vociferously. — TNS